The way is now cleared for Jeremy Corbyn to stand in the Labour leadership contest.

Labour’s National Executive Committee has agreed that as the incumbent leader he will be on the ballot paper.

The secret vote went 18-14 in the Opposition leader's favour following hours of talks at the party's headquarters in central London.

There was doubt he would be able to take part if he had been required to secure the same number of nominations as any other candidate.

A Labour spokeperson said: “The NEC has agreed that as the incumbent Leader Jeremy Corbyn will go forward onto the ballot without requiring nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party and the European Parliamentary Labour Party. All other Leadership candidates will require nominations from twenty percent of the [Parliamentary Labour Party] and [the European Parliamentary Labour Party].”

Jeremy Corbyn said he is “delighted" that he will automatically be included on the ballot in Labour's leadership contest and pledged to campaign “on all the things that matter”.

Mr Corbyn's challenger, former Shadow Business Secretary Angela Eagle, said: “I'm glad Labour's NEC has come to a decision. I welcome the contest ahead. And I am determined to win it.”